Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4
A
TLANTA^NQUIRER
Established July, lIMiO. Published weekly. Editorial. Advertising and Cir
eukilion offices at !>53 Hunter Street. Xt\. Atlanta. Georgia. Subscription
rates, NS.Sh for one year, SKMHI for two years. The Atlanta Inquirer is an
independent, non-partisan newspaper, dedicated to truth and the advance
ment of the total community. The Inquirer cannot accept responsibility for
unsolicited manuscripts, photos and other materials. Distributed each
Thursday afternoon; outside Metropolitan Atlanta—lsc.
Publisher, THE ATLANTA INQUIRER, INC.
President. Jesse Hill. Jr.
Vice President, Clinton Warner, M.D.
Treasurer, J. C. Johnson
Secretary, Clarence Coleman
Exec. Comm., Charles Goosby, D.D.S.
Editor. M. Carl Holiian
Managing Editor, Charles A. Black
National. Advertising Representative: Amalgamated Publisher, Inc ‘llO
Madison Ave., N. Y. 17. N. V. Telephone: MVrray Hill X-5455.
Second class postage paid at Atlanta, Georgia
Debutante Ball-A
Community Institution
The Annual Debutante Ball sponsored by Sigma Gamma Rho
Sorority is no longer just a youth project sponsored by a Greek
letter organization, it has become a community institution. This
very project which was launched in December, 1952 is an im
portant, uplifting, inspiring, and challenging force for our young
people and their parents.
Special tributes are In order for two beloved leaders of Sigma
Gamma Rho Sorority who are no longer with us —the late Mes
dames Sammye Fuller Coan and Thelma Downing Walters —
whose lives wielded great influence upon Atlanta’s Debutante
Ball; and rightly so, because each made his own varied, unique
and vital contributions of an educational, religious, social and
civic nature.
We salute Mrs. Annette Hampton, the Basileus, and all of
the members of Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority,
for continuing the promotion and development of the Debutante •
Ball, a key source of cultural vitality for our community.
A Calm Reflection
Talking About Self
BY ELIZA PASCHALL
During the black weekend of Nov. 22, when most .1 us sat in
horror before the television screen, a group of about 40 college
students and 10 adults met, as planned, at ITC for a training
session for the first Atlanta Panel of Americans. There were
students from each of the colleges in the area, an historic
event in itself, but perhaps more historic was their topic —
just themselves.
They came to learn to talk about themselves so that they
might go out and give others encouragement to look at themselves
and talk honestly, about how they feel about themselves and
other people.
For many of the participants, students and adults, this was :
their first opportunity to be with members of another racial
group just "as a person” and the things they learned were
startling to some.
Time and again, the white students said, “It never occurred
to me that anybody wouldn’t like me, ” And time and again
the Negro students said "I’ve never liked white people be
cause ...” Because she was expected to step aside when
there was room on the sidewalk for only one ... because
her mother worked for white children and came home too tired
to play with her own children.
The program, sponsored by the Council on Human Relations
of Greater Atlanta, is part of a national Panel of Americans,
a program in college areas all over the country, a program
designed to help Americans to examine their differences and
to understand them, not to deny them or try to do away with
them. The students are divided into several panels, and
upon invitation from groups which want them to appear, a panel
will come and "just talk” , not representing anybody but them
selves. No one speaks for all Negroes, or all whites, or all
Protestants, or all Catholics, or all southerners, or all northern
ers.
If you would Like to observe a panel in action, plan to attend
the membership of the Council on Jan. 6, at 8 p.m. at the audi
torium of ITC. If you could use such a program, contact the
If you would Like to observe a panel in action, plan to attend
the membership of the Council on Jan. 6, at 8 p.m. at the audi
torium of ITC. If you could use such a program, contact the
Council office.
One student panelist commented, "Ican’t believe that anybody
would go to all this trouble just to help me understand myself
and to let me talk about myself.”
If you like to talk about yourself, come to ITC Monday, Jan.
6,1964.
THE ATLANTA INQUIRER
Stop The Hate Groups Now, Before They Destroy Her.
WE SALUTE HARPER HIGH
Our community’s newest and finest high school facility, from
every indication is more than brick, steel and mortar, but a
thriving educational institution rich in human assets.
At the big Hurt Park Civil Rights Rally Sunday the only band
among the college and high school bands invited to participate
was the C. L. Harper High School Band under the direction of
Band master Mitchell. We are not surprized at the outstanding
show of community service by Harper High, for the students,
faculty. Band Director Mitchell and fine principal Thompson,
are following in the great tradition of the Late Professor C. L.
Harper, principal, NAACP President and beloved Civil Rights
pioneer, the man in whose honor the school was named.
The Harper band in their smart uniforms braved the bitter
cold to fill and important void. Their concert music was good
and they warmed the hearts of the cold throng in Hurt Park.
We join all Atlanta in Saluting the C. L. Harper High School.
What Do You
Think About It?
ALBERT RICHARD SAMPSON
Time is running out so said King
I’m wondering if this means anything?
To our white brethren here downtown
Who gaze at me with a frown.
A frown radiating some unknown disgust
But I don’t understand for I know their trust.
They trust me with their kids and food
Yet they claim I’m dirty and no-good.
Time is running out and it’s not funny
We forgot to boycott Santa, now we’ll try the Easter bunny.
But time is running out as well as the year
Will segregation leave or be here ?
Herq until time itself runs out
Or until the Negro wins the bout.
Yes time is running out my white brethem
Ami your property or your friend?
Don’t tell me show me whatever you do
Let me see my freedom just like you.
For time is running out don’t you see?
No matter what you think I*ll be free.
So don’t hesitate what’er you do
I’ll enjoy my freedom along with you.
I’ll get what God gave everyman
Freedom to be to traverse the land.
I’ll get an education in a good institution
I don’t even want retribution.
I’ll find my Jesus in your hymnbook
I*ll be in your stores to work and look.
I’ll work my fingers to the bone
For America is my only home.
So don’t be afraid to live with me
For I’ll be free in "63”.
Because If I don’t and it’s your fault some more
If I have to wait until "64".
There’s no telling what might occur
You can’t afford the gross error.
Remember the words of M. L. King
Let freedom ring, Let freedom ring.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21,1013
Subjectively
Speaking
by charles a. black
It wasn’t really so bad, that
March last Sunday. Segrega
tionists were quick to make an
issue of the fact that there were
not 30,000 Negroes in atten
dance, which of course would
have been fine. But, perhaps
an objective look at what did
happen and who did attend rath
er than at what did not happen
or who did not attend would be
a sounder base for evaluating
Jie march.
Most significant of all was
what was communicated be
tween those who called the ga
thering and those who answer
ed the call. It was not all
through conventional dialogue,
but the message was loudly
heralded, "We have had our
fill of negotiations, resolutions
and empty promises. Go tell
that ‘Progressive Atlanta’ stuff
to somebody else, we know bet
ter.”
“When we can’t get decent
jobs for ourselves, decent hous
ing for our families, decent ed
ucation for our children, decent
representation from our elected
officials and fair returns for our
tax dollars, all that other stuff
you talk about means nothing to
us and we don’t want to hear
it. Will you continue to tell us
to spend our money where WE
can’t work, vote for politicians
who ignore us and be content
for ‘a little while longer’ with
humiliating racial discrimi
nation? WE HOPE NOT!
The people who joined the
“Pilgrimage For Democracy”
did not number 30,000 or 10,
000 but they were from thor
oughly representative levels
and areas of Atlanta.
Their reaction to the sug
gestion that the only realistic
way to expect Atlanta to re
linquish her bias will be after
forceful, open protest and pos
sible economic w ithdrawal was
reflective of the general feeling
in the Negro community.
So, That March Wasn’tSobad
after All
